Spring-hinge.



No. 695.494. PatentedMar. 18,1902;

A. J. ROSENTRETER.

SPRING HINGE. (Application med, July -17."1901 I (No Model.) 2sheetsfsheet l.

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No. 695,494. Patented Mar. l8, I902.

A. .1. ROS EN TBETER. SPRING HINGE.

. (Application filed. Jud 17, 1901, v (31 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

wz/tnllmllllll" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. ROSENTRETER, OF BOONTON, NElV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPHBARDSLEY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

SP RlNG- sPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,494,dated' March 18,1902.

Application filed July 17, 19011- To all whom it may concern: 2

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. ROSENTRE- TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Boonton, in the county of Morrisand State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in spring-hinges; and it consistsin the novel features, combinations, and arrangements of partshereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Theinvention pertains more particularly to hinges for doors which aremounted at their lower end upon a spring spindle or pivot and held attheir upper end by means of a stud projecting into a socket.

In accordance with the present invention a novel construction ofspring-hinge is provided for the lower edge of the door, and the saidinvention will be fully understood from 1 the detailed descriptionhereinafter present-. ed, reference'being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a top View of a spring-11in geconstructed in accordance with and embodying 7 5 is a bottom view ofsame.

the invention, the cap for the inclosing casing being omitted and theparts of the hinge being shown in the normal position they assume whenthe door is stationary and closed; Fig. 2 is a like view of same, butillustrating the position the parts will take when the door is in apartly open position. Fig. 3 is acentral vertical longitudinal sectionof same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. etis a detached top viewof the upper interior hub to which the springs are connected and ispresented to more clearly illustrate the means for adjusting the tensionof the springs. Fig. Fig; 6 is a topview, partly broken away, of thelower hub' to which the actuating-springs are connected.

-. Fig. 7 is a detached bottom View of a lever and 2.

to be set in motion by the door and the form of the top of which isillustrated in Figs. 1 Fig. 8 is a detached bottom view of Fig. 9 is asectional View of the de- Serial No. 68,590. ,(No model.)

rice for adjusting the tension of the springs,

the section being taken on the dotted line 9 9 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 10 isa detached View of one of the-lever-arms.

Inlthe drawings, designates a customary form ofac'tuating-spindle toreceive the lower end of the door in the usual manner. The spindle 20when in use has an:axial motion imparted to it, and said spindle isjournaled in the bearings 21 and'22, the bearing 21 being in the form ofa sleeve which is integral with the top plate or cap 23 for the casing24 and the bearing 22 being in the nature of a socket formed in the baseof. the said casing 24 and in line with the said bearing 21, as shownin-Fig. 3;

The spindle 20 is simply a plain shaft, and the only element of thestructure positively united with the shaft is the actuating-arm 25,which projects horizontally from the upper portion of the spindle 20andis providedat the upper and lower sides of its outer end with therollers numbered 26 27, respectively.

The roller 26 is disposed between, the arms 28 of the bifurcated frame29, the latterbeing mounted upon the vertical pivot 30, carried by theplate 31, and the roller 27 is disposed between the lever-arms 32 33,the rollers 26 :27 constituting parts of the arm and the roller 26 beingintended to turn the bifurcated frame 29 to one side or the other duringthe operation of the door, as denoted y In a substantially centralpositionwithin the casing 24: is rigidly mounted a vertical stud orshaft 34:, upon which is mountedthe lowerhub 35, which has a verticalsleeve 36 to pass upon said shaft 34, as shown in Fig.

3, said sleeve 36 afiording a bearing-for the hub and being adapted toturn axially on said shaft 34. The upper hub 37 is formed with adepending sleeve 38, which passes downward upon the sleeve 36 of the hub35,

andthe sleeve 38, together with the sleeve 36,

affords a bearing which admitsof the proper axial rotation of the hub37.

The hub 37 has connected with it an encircling ring 39, which is at alltimes in firm ner edges upon the cross-bar 42, connected with the hub 37by means of a screw 43, Figs. 4 and 5, and above the ring 39, at oneside of the hub 37, is disposed the rigid lever-arm 33, which isintegral with the upper surface of the hub 37 and which in addition toperforming other functions,as hereinafter explained, prevents any upwardmovement of the ring 39 from its position around the hub 37. The ring 39is first slipped upon the hub 37 from the lower side of the latter, andthen the cross-bar 42is passed upward from the lower end of the sleeve38 of the hub 37 until its ends contact with the inner edges of saidring 39, and thereupon the said cross-bar 42 is fastened to the hub 37by means of the screw 43.

The connection between the ring 39 andupper hub 37, which substantiallyunites said ring and hub so that both are compelled to rotate togetherduring the opening and closing of the door, comprises the rotary chuck44 and series of teeth 45, said teeth being formed upon the uppersurface of said ring 39 and said chuck 44 being carried in an extension46, formed on the lever-arm 33. The rotary chuck 44 has upon its upperend a grooved head adapted to receive the edge of a screwdriver, asshown in Fig. 4, and upon its lower end is formed a head 47, (shown inFigs. 8 and 9,) containing studs 48. The studs 48 are adapted to enterbetween the teeth 45,

formed on the ring 39, and bind the hub 37 and ring 39 together. Therotary chuck 44 and teeth 45 are provided in order toadjust the springs40, whose upper ends are, as above described, connected with said ring,while their lower ends are, as shown in Fig. (i, hooked upon the lowerhub 35. By rotating the rotary chuck 44 the studs 48 thereof (thelever-arm 33 then being stationary) will by engaging the teeth 45 elfectthe rotation of the ring 39 upon the hub 37, said studs 48 alternatelypassing around the outer ends of and engaging said teeth 45 andcompelling the ring 39 to turn around the hub 37. When the chuck 44 hasbeen turned to a suflicientextent either in one direction or the otherto secure the proper tension in the springs 40,-

ring will during the opening and closing of the door rotate together.

During the opening of the door in one direction the lower roller 27,connected with the actuating-arm 25, operates against the lever-arm 33to rotate the hub 37 and ring 39 against the stress of the springs 40,and during the opening of the door in the opposite direction the saidroller 27 acts against the lever-arm 32 to rotate thelower hub 35against the stress of the springs 40, said lever-arm 33, as abovedescribed, being integral with the hub 37, While the lever-arm 32 (shownin Fig. 10) is keyed upon the upper end of the sleeve 36, connected withthe lower hub 35. The normal at-rest position of the lever-ar1ns 32 and33 is illustrated in Fig. 1, in which it will be observed that the saidlever-arms have their pointed outer ends in engagement with the plate31, said plate constituting stops for checking the lever-arms 32 33 intheir normal position against the stress of the springs 40, which exerta constant tension against the hubs 35 37 to drive said lever-arms 32 33to theirnormal position and against the plate 31.

The plate 31 is segmental in outline and is held upon a platform 50,formed in the easing 24,by means of screws 51,which pass downwardthrough slots 52, formed at the ends of said plate 31-, which permit ofthe adjustment of said plate in a lateral direction, whereby to compelthe adjustment of the actuating lever-arm 25 and the parts affectedthereby into properalinementfor compelling the door when warped orsomewhat unevenly hung to reach a proper closed position. The lateraladjustment of the plate 31 effects the movement of the lever-arms 32 33with it and carries the bifurcated frame 29, since the pin 30, uponwhich said frame is mounted, is secured to the said plate 31.

The bifurcated frame 29 is shown in top elevation in Figs. 1 and 2 andin bottom elevation in Fig. 7, and said frame comprises arms 28 28,straddling the upper roller 26, the transverse bar 53, the hub 54, whichpasses upon the vertical pin 30, and the downwardly-depending armsorlugs 55 55,-disposed at the ends of the transverse bar 53 andadaptedto engage the lever-arms 32 33, one of said arms 55 being intended forengagement with the levenartn 32 and the other arm 55 being intended forengagement with the lever-arm 33.

When the bifurcated frame 29 is in its normal at-rest position, with thedoor closed, the depending arms or lugs 55 55 are against the levers 3233 and the ends of the said levers 32 33 are against the stops furnishedby the plate 31, as shown in Fig. 1, and at such time the actuating-arm25 is in line with the bifurcated frame 29, with its upper roller 26between the arms 28 of said frame and its lower roller 27 between theinner ends of the leverarms 32 33, the parts being held in thisposition, with the door closed, by the force of the springs 40.

When the door is opened in one dircction,the

lower roller 27, carried by the arm 25, will act against one ofthelever-arms 32 33 and the upper roller 26 will act against the bifurcatedframe 29, with the result of turning the latter to a limited extent andcausing one of its depending arms 55 to engage that one of thelever-arms 32 33 which is not engaged by the roller 27, as indicated inFig. 2. When the door is opened in one direction, the lower roller 27,carried by the lever-arm 25, will move against the lever-arm 32 andeffect, through the lower hub 35, the winding up of the springs 40, andwhen the door is opened in the opposite direction the lower roller 27will move against the lever-arm 33 and effect, through the movement ofthe hub 37,the winding up of the springs 40 from the upper end of thelatter. When the door is opened and then released, the lever-arm(32 or33) then in engagement with the lower roller 27 will be acted upon bythe springs 40 to force the door into a closed position. a

When the door is in its closed position, the roller 27 of theactuating-arm25 is intermediate the shank ends of said levers, andduring the opening of the door the said roller 27 will ride outward in adirection toward the outer ends of said levers, the efiect of thisarrangement being that whenthe door is in its closed position it will bevery securely held by the springs -10, Whose apparent force against thedoor will lessen-as the door is opened, owing to the fact that theroller 27 rides outward toward the outer end of said levers 32 33; thisbeing permitted by the fact that the actuating-spindle 20' is eccentricto the hubs 35 37, carrying saidlevers.

Apart, therefore, from the employment of the bifurcated frame 29 thedevices below said frame constitute an operative structure; but bypreference the bifurcated frame 29 is employed, and these features maybe understood upon reference to Fig. 2, in which it will be seen thatupon the opening ofthe door the roller 27 has moved againstthe lever-arm33-and the upper roller 26 has turned the frame29 and caused one of itsarms 55 to move against the lever-arm 32, whereby said lever-arm 32simultaneously with the operation of the lever-arm 33 has been caused toturn the lower hub 35'aud effect the winding of the spring fromthelow'er end of the latter, the movement of the lever 33 having turnedthe hub 37 in an opposite direction and wound the springs 40 from theupper end of the hub. Thus upon the opening of the 7 'door the. springs40 Will be woundfrom both 'part a reverse rotation tosaid frame 29 andallow the lever-arm 32 to act against its contacting arm 55 to aid inrestoring the frame 29-to its normal position. When the. door is openedin a reverse direction ,the lower roller 27 of the actuating-arm 25 willengage the lever-arm '32 and the upper roller 26 will turn thebifurcated frame 29 in a direction toward said lever-arm 32, and therebycause one of the arms 55 of said frame to engage and-move the lever-arm33 for the purpose of winding up the springs 40 from the upper end ofthe latter, While the motion of the lever-arm 32 results in the windingof said springs from their lower ends.

The presence of the frame 29,- operatingas described, results in thedoor being firmly held in its closed position and remaining unaffectedby drafts and the like, since, as will be observed, the door-during thefirst part of its openingmovement is compelled to wind up both ends ofthe springs 40,- said springs thus exerting a-maximum force, at theclosing point of the door to retain the door in its closed position.After the doorhas been opened to a given extent the frame 29 will reachthe position represented inFig. 2, and-then during the continued motionof the door the frame 29 remains at rest and the springs 40 are onlywound from one end lofthe latter. Thus during the'continued openingofthe door a less amount of-force is i equired than at the starting of theopening movement of the door. The frame 29 cooperates-with "the springs40 in preventing any vibrationof the door when at itsclosedpositiontorfthe opening of the door by drafts or thestanding iofthe door ajar.

The plate 31 is adjustable laterally on the arc of a circle whose centeris theactuatingspindle 20, and when the plate 31 is adjusted laterallyit effects, through the lever-arms 32 33, the corresponding-turning ofthe hubs 35 and-37and spindle 20, so that the-entire structure withinthecasing 2,4 is kept in true alinement no matter what the adjustmentofthe plate 31 may be. 'Theadjustment, of the 'plate 3l-is-effected byloosening the screws 51 and-moving-the plate 31 a slightdistancelaterally in oneidirectionor the other, vas required, and thenretightening the screws 51.

The purpose ofadjusti-ngtheplate, 3 1.or,

defects, tonormallystand in a true closed position within its frame. theirregularities in-the door or the door-casing or the embedding ofthecasing2t-in the At; times, dueto fioorbelowthe door or the truenessof the polygonal upper end of the spindle20, aswell "asfromother,causes, the-door-may not close, entirely and with propersatisfactiom-and on &

any such occasion-in order to compel the door when closed to firmlystand in a proper position the plate 31 will be adjusted laterally toeffect such result, the adjustment of the said plate 31 being to compelthe -spindle 20 to hold the door in its proper closed position.

The springs are two separate independent wire coils, the Wire of theinner coil being of smaller diameter than the wire of the outer coil,and the upper ends of said coils enter the apertures e1 in the ring 39,while the lower ends of said coils are bent at an angle, as shown inFig. 9, to hook upon convenient shoulders provided on the lower hub 35.The present invention is not, however,

limited to the employment of both of the springs 40; but itisrecommended that both of said springs be used, since better resultsmay be attained thereby.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the presentinvention is not limited to the employment in every instance roller 27and during the further opening of the door (or after the roller 27 haspassed the apex of said convex surfaces) retard as little as practicablethe movement of said roller, the object being to insure the firm holdingof the door in its closed position and relieve a part of the resistanceafter the door has been partly opened and is being pressed to a furtheropen position.

The adjustment of the plate 31 may be effected without removing thecap-plate 23 from the casing 24, since the heads of the screws 51 areexposed through said plate. The screws 51 are separated from each othera distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a door, and henceafter the door is hung the screws 51 maybe loosened, the door moved toits proper closed position, and the screws 51 then retightened, thusthrough the door and the parts in operative connection with the spindle20 moving the stop-plate 31 to the desired position, where it is held bythe retightening of the screws 51.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a spring-hinge, the actuating-spindle to receive the door, thevertical shaft 34L at one side of said spindle, the hub 35 havingasleeve 36 mounted on said shaft, the hub 37 having the sleeve 38 mountedupon the said sleeve 36, and the coiled spring connected at its endswith said hubs, combined with the leverarms respectively connected withsaid hubs for turning the same and winding said spring during theopening of the door, stops for arresting said lever-arms at theirinitial position, and the actuating-arm connected with said spindle andadapted to engage either of said lever-arms for turning the same andwinding the spring during the opening of the door; substantially as setforth.

2. In a spring-hinge, the actuating-spindle to receive the door, theupper and lower rotary hubs, and the coiled spring connected at its endswith said hubs, said upper hub comprising as a member thereof the rotaryring 39 having the series of teeth 45, combined with the rotary chuck 44connected with said upper hub and having on its lower end the studs 48to engage said teeth and effect the rotation of said ring foradjustingthe tension of the said spring, the lever-arms respectivelyconnected with said hubs for turning the same and winding the springduring the opening of the door, stops for arresting said leyer-arms attheir initial position, and the actuating-arm connected with saidspindle and. adapted to engage either of said lever-arms for turning thesame and winding the spring during the opening of the door;substantially as set forth.

3. In a spring-hinge, the actuating-spindle to receive the door,combined with the coiled door-closin g spring, the pivotally-m ountedlever-arms respectively connected with the ends of said spring forwinding said spring during the opening of the door, stops for arrestingsaid lever-arms at their initial position, the actuating-arm connectedwith said spindle and adapted at its outer end to engage either of saidlever-arms for turning the same and winding the spring during theopening of the door, and means operable from said spindle for, duringthe opening of the door, acting against the other of said lever-armswhile said actuating-arm is moving its lever-arm and then arresting saidother lever-arm, whereby during the starting portion of the opening ofthe door, said spring will be wound from both its ends and then, duringthe continued opening of the door, said other lever-arm having beenarrested, said spring will be wound from one of its ends only;substantially as set forth.

i. In a spring-hinge, the actuating-spindle to receive the door,combined with the coiled door-closing spring, the pivotally-mountedlever-arms respectively connected with the ends of said spring forWinding said spring during the opening of the door, stops for arrestingsaid lever-arms at their initial position, the actuating-arm connectedwith said spindle and adapted at its outer end to engage either of saidlever-arms for turning the same and winding the spring during theopening of the door, and the pivoted bifurcated frame 29 in engagementwith said actuating-arm and hav ing arms 55, for engagement with saidleverarms, one of said arms 55 being for eoiiperation with one of saidlever-arms, and the other of said arms 55 being for cooperation with theother of said lever-arms, and said frame 29 being so disposed withrespect to said lever-arms that while said actuating-arm is moving oneof said lever-arms, said frame 29 through one of its arms will actuatethe other of said lever-arms; substantially as set forth.

5. In a spring-hinge,the actuating-spindle to receive the door, combinedwith the coiled door-closing spring, the pivotally-mounted lever-armsrespectively connected with the ends of said spring for winding saidspring during the opening of the door, the plate 31 affording stops forarresting said lever-arms at their initial position, means for adjustingthe position of said plate 31 so as to regulate the initial position ofsaid lever-arms in ac-' cordance with the condition of the door, theactuating-arm connected with said spindle and having the rollers 26, 27,and adapted, through said roller 27, to engage either ofsaid lever-armsfor turning the same and winding the spring during the opening of thedoor,

actuating-arm is moving its lever-arm, where,

by during the starting portion of the opening of the door, said springwill be wound from both its ends; substantially as set forth.

6. In a spring-hinge, the inclosing casing havinga cap-plate, and theactuating-spindle to receive the door, combined with a doorclosingspring, the pivotally-mounted leverarms respectively, connected withvthe ends of said spring for'winding said spring during the opening ofthe door, stops for arresting said lever-arms at their initial position,the vertical screws 5lseparated from one another a distance somewhatgreater than the thickness of a door for binding said stops and havingtheir heads exposed through the said capplate to admit of theiroperation without removing said cap-plate for adjusting the parts of thehinge from the door, and the actuating-arm connected with said spindleand adapted at its outer end to engage either of said lever-arms forturning the same and winding the spring during the openingof thedoor,said spindle being mounted eccentrically to said lever-arms;substantially as set forth.

7. In a spring-hinge, the actuating-spindle J screws 51 separated fromone another a dis- I tance somewhat greater than thefthickness of a doorfor binding said plate and when loosened to admit of the adjustment ofthe same from the door, and the actuating-arm connected with saidspindle and adaptedjat its. outer end to engage either ofsaid leverarmsfor turning the same-and Winding the spring during the opening of thedoor, said spindle being mounted eccentrically to said lever-arms;substantially as setforth.

8. A door-closing spring, combined with means for the adjustment of saidspring, said means comprising a plate39 to which one end of the springis connected and which is adapted to move in the direction the spring isWound during its adjustment,the teeth 45 on said plate, and theaxially-rotatable chuck 44 having the studs 48 to engage and move aroundthe ends of said teeth fo'rmoving said plate and adjusting said spring;substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 16th day of July, A. D. 1901.

ALBERT J. RosENTRETERQ

